1919

REMARKS ON THE DRAFT DECREE
ON REQUISITIONS AND CONFISCATIONS*

16 December 1919

Decree on requisitions and confiscations

requisitioned and confiscated articles of food and other items of broad consumption become the property of the RSFSR and no later than 9 days from the moment of seizure are transferred through food organs; articles of furnishings and domestic use through distribution organs; money and valuables through People's Banks; weapons through military commissariats; agricultural implements, inventory, and the like through the organs of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture, and the like.

10. Not subject to seizure: monopolized and rationed articles of foodstuffs in quantities not exceeding the norms established by the People's Commissariat of Food; non-rationed items—regardless of their quantity, if there does not arise substantial suspicion that these products are intended for speculation.

Note: The People's Commissariat of Food is charged with the obligation to publish the aforementioned norms no later than 15 January 1920.

*See remarks in the text.*

*Where are they transferred? The editing is not entirely satisfactory.*

*And the food apportionment? Is the surplus subject to seizure if it was not included in the apportionment?? It would be better to think through the question of apportionment together with the People's Commissariat of Food.*

11. Not subject to requisition are articles of broad consumption, such as: clothing, footwear, furniture, dishes, and the like, that have been in use; articles that have not been in use, as well as materials necessary for their manufacture, are retained only in the quantity necessary for satisfying the actual needs of family members, provided that the quantity of articles, both those in use and not in use, does not indicate storage for speculative purposes.

*Not the right word. Does this mean unnecessary trousers can be confiscated from ordinary citizens? That's too much. There is something expressed incorrectly here, too broadly. It needs to be said differently.*

13. Not subject to seizure are books and sheet music from private individuals and societies in a quantity not exceeding 3,000 titles of books or 1,000 titles of sheet music, as well as from individuals and societies having books and sheet music in greater quantity but having received protective charters from the Library Section of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment. Upon seizure of the surplus against the aforementioned norms, the owner is given the right to choose which books or sheet music are retained.

*In my view, restrictions are needed here as well: special regulations, even not from local, but from central authority. Otherwise it is impossible to confiscate books exceeding 3,000.*

14. Not subject to seizure are paper money in an amount not exceeding the yearly minimum tariff rate of the given locality for each person in the family. Cash surplus beyond this norm is confiscated.

*Is there a law for this? Does this mean confiscating all money from peasants exceeding (5 x 2,000) 10,000 rubles? This cannot be done. Restrictions are needed here as well.*

*A ring? A trinket?*

15. Not subject to seizure are golden and silver articles, as well as precious stones set in articles in a quantity not exceeding one article of each type of thing per person.

*N.B. And a second horse? A second cow?*

18. Not subject to seizure are articles of peasant husbandry and domestic use in the quantity necessary for conducting the economy without employing hired labor, depending on the composition of the family and local conditions of husbandry. In particular, not subject to seizure are the only horse and cow, small livestock and domestic fowl.

*# This is, perhaps, the most important and most dangerous point. It is impossible to permit the seizure of a second horse and a second cow. Are there not rules on this subject from the Food Commissariat and from the Military Commissariat? This cannot be done. This is a point where one must be considerably more cautious.*

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# RESOLUTION ON THE REPORT OF THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR POOL OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS*

22 December 1919

Vladimir Dmitriyevich,

I request that you convey gratitude to the comrades for energetic work and issue 1 pud of flour as a prize.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

_________ 

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* In the report to the manager of affairs of the Council of People's Commissars, the head of the motor pool reported that work was begun on 15 December, repairs were completed on 19 December. The machine...